In Memoriam: John David Souther (1945 - 2024)

Below is a partially rewritten article from 2012 that I'm reposting today due to the sad passing of singer-songwriter and actor, J. D. Souther.

John David Souther has always been a much loved songwriter despite the fact he didn't have an extensive catalog of his own recorded music. There are only seven solo, studio albums in his name since 1972, but he always had a lot of success penning tunes for others, most notably the California soft-rockers of the 70s.

Souther wrote for and with many of music's top flight acts including Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor, Jimmy Buffett, Glen Campbell, The Chicks, India.Arie, Roy Orbison, Warren Zevon, Brian Wilson, and especially Eagles. He also played in the Souther, Hillman, Furay Band during the same decade with Chris Hillman (The Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers, and The Desert Rose Band) and Richie Furay (Buffalo Springfield and Poco).

Souther's reputation as a songwriter rather than a performer has contributed to the low profile he always had with the public. The fact that he stopped recording in 1984 for twenty-four years and spent some time acting in two successful TV series, Thirtysomething and Nashville, most certainly added to his lack of recognition too, especially among younger music fans. He finally ended his studio hiatus with the release of  If The World Was You in 2008. He only recorded two more albums after that, Natural History, in 2011 and Tenderness in 2015.
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I saw Souther play a short, very good, forty-six minute concert way back on July 22, 2012 at the XPoNential Music Festival hosted by alternative radio station, WXPN, 88.5, in Philadelphia.

Souther played acoustic guitar accompanied by an upright bass player and a pianist whose keyboard of choice was a baby grand. His smooth, Roy Orbison-like voice was still quite effective and he had no trouble regaling the listeners with an array of his best known songs, including his solo hit "You're Only Lonely." He also sang "Faithless Love" a song he wrote for Ronstadt, as well as tunes he composed with and for Eagles: "New Kid in Town," "Heartache Tonight," and "The Sad Cafe." He also surprised everyone with a cover of Duke Ellington's "Do Nothing 'Till You Hear From Me."

Souther didn't play anything groundbreaking or revolutionary, but his very entertaining show was exactly what you would want and expect from a veteran of his stature.

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